Banjo neck



Aug. 17 1926, A .l w. H. PLACE, JR 1'596763- `BANJO NECK Filed Jan. 22, 1926 IN :z2-N .TD E

- @MMQM Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM HENRY PLACE, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,

BANJO NECK.

Application led January 22, 1926. Serial No. 83,030.

My invention has reference to an improvement in banjos and more particularly to an improvement in the necks of banjos and the like.

In the construction of up to date banjos, as used in orchestral playing, the banjo has a wooden neck and the tension of the strings is liable and does at times, twist or warp the wooden banjo neck out of shape, thereby ruining the utility of the banjo.

The object of my invention is to improve and strengthen the wooden necks of string musical instruments, such as banjos and the like, whereby the necks of such musical instruments are greatly improved and strengthened.

A further object of my invention is to simplify the construction in strengthening the necks of banjos and the like, whereby the cost of such strengthening means is reduced to a minimum.

My invention consists in the peculiar' and novel construction of necks for banjos and the like, said necks having details of construction as will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed.

Figure 1 is a side View of a banjo neck embodying my invention and showing the neck partly in section' so as to bring out my improved construction of the strengthening means of the neck.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the strengthening member of the neck.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the neck, taken on line 3, 3, of Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged transverse sectional views of a finger-board, strengthening member and neck, respectively, of the separate parts of my improved banjo neck, before assembling the parts.

In the drawing 7indicatesawooden banjo neck and 8 a metal banjo neck strengthening member. The banjo neck 7 has `a finger-board 9 with the usual graduated frets 10, 10, and the finger board 9 is first made separate from the neck 7 and then secured to the neck, in any well known way.

In carrying my invention into practice I form a tapered T shaped groove 11 in the wooden neck 7, said T shaped groove 11, extending centrally and lengthwise of the neck 7, the cross head 12 of the `T shaped groove 11 lying under the linger-board 9 and the stem 13 of the T shaped groove 11, extending into the neck 7, as shown in Figure 3. This T shaped groove 11 is deeper at the banjo head end 1.4, of the neck 7 than at the key end 15 of the neck 7 rl`he strengthening member 8 is in the form of a metal T shaped tapered bar 16 shaped to fit in the T shaped tapered groove 11 in the banjo neck 7 and this metal T shaped tapered bar 16 has a cross head 17 tapered lengthwise and shaped to lit in the head 12 of the T shaped groove 11 in the banjo neck L7 and a tapered stem 18 shaped to tit into the tapered stem 13 of the tapered T shaped groove 11, in the neck 7.

When the parts are assembled and in use the metal strengthening member 8 is embedded lengthwise in the wooden neck 7 under the finger-board 9 and the whole secured together by glue or other means. When the finger-board 9 is secured in place on the neck, the metal strengthening member 8 concealed in the neck 7.

By the use of my improved metal strengthening means in a wooden banjo neck, the wooden neck is greatly strengthened and the heretofore warping or twisting of the wooden neck out of line or shape, is eliminated.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new As a new article oi'f' manufacture, a metal strengthening member for wooden banjo necks, said metal strengthening member consisting ot' a T shaped metal bar tapered lengthwise, for the purpose as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specilication.

WILLIAM HENRY PLACE, J R. 

